Mick Harvey, the multi-instrumentalist co-founder of Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds, announced yesterday that he has left the band. Aside from Nick Cave, Harvey was the last original member of the project, which has entered its 25th year of existence.

Prior to forming The Bad Seeds, Harvey and Cave, who began playing together at age 14, were part of the seminal Australian punk band The Birthday Party.

His statement read: “I feel I am leaving the band as it experiences one of its many peaks, in very healthy condition, and with fantastic prospects for the future. I’m confident Nick will continue to be a creative force and that this is the right time to pass on my artistic and managerial role to what has become a tremendous group of people.”